Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, lauded the local government unit of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte, for the successful groundbreaking of its Super Health Center in Barangay Gunyan on Thursday, 21 December.

Local officials, including Mayor Alberto Bongcawel and Congresswoman Glona Labadlabad, among others attended the event.

According to Go, this event marks a pivotal step in reinforcing the country's health infrastructure. He also added that this center is set to play an essential role in strengthening the country's health system, especially at the grassroots.

"The Super Health Center in Siayan is not just a mere health facility; it represents a substantial leap forward in the Philippine healthcare system by bringing primary care, medical consultations, and early disease detection to the grassroots level," he added.

These centers are strategically designed to be more accessible to Filipinos, thereby ensuring that essential health services are within reach of many.

The facility will offer a wide range of services, including database management, outpatient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and an ambulatory surgical unit. Additionally, the Super Health Center provides specialized services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, allowing for remote diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, LGUs, and the Department of Health (DOH), sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 Super Health Centers in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where the centers will be constructed.

Go also highlighted the pivotal role of Super Health Centers in narrowing the gap in existing health facilities in the country.

He emphasized their primary functions, which include early disease detection and hospital decongestion, saying, "These functions are integral to providing timely and effective healthcare services, ensuring that medical care is not just available, but also efficient and proactive."